Steve and Cokie Crack Me Up

Just had to share this little tidbit I noticed in the most recent column by Steve and Cokie Roberts. Its titled "Conservatives on brink of disaster on illegals" (I would include a link, but I can't seem to find an archive of their columns anywhere on the web - I find it occasionally in my local paper).

Among general recitations of the typically socially-conservative leanings of immigrants from south of the border, they take the time to trash the recent immigration bill passed in the House last winter, that would have made it a felony to be in the country illegally. Most amusingly, however, they include the following passage:

"[the bill] makes it a crime to live here illegally..."

I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I read this, most likely startling my fellow diners in a local fast food restaurant. Let me get this straight: Steve and Cokie Roberts are complaining that the House immigration bill would have made participating in an illegal activity a crime? Aren't they centuries and centuries too late to complain about this? I think its self-evident that ever since Hammurabi penned his code, its been a crime to commit illegal acts.

Its also interesting to note that Steve and Cokie commit the same old leftist error (or is it an error?) of confusing opposition to illegal immigration with some sort of imagined opposition to immigrants in general. This is a red herring of the first order. While there are a small number of people in America that could accurately be described as xenophobes, the average supporter of stricter border enforcement can't. We're simply asking for the laws to be enforced, and for people wishing to make their life in the U.S. to come here legally, so we can welcome them to the melting pot.